Bushmills Black Bush (40%, OB, 2015)

• Category: Blended, triple-distilled Irish whiskey
• Origin: Bushmills Distillery
• Bottling: Official
• ABV: 40%
• Cost: £22.90
• Score: 82/100

What they say:

An intriguing name and an intriguing flavour. Right from the pour you’ll notice the dark colouring‚ a result of maturing for up to seven years in spanish oloroso sherry casks and sweet bourbon barrels. As for the taste‚ this 80% malt premium whiskey floats across the tongue to deliver dark‚ velvety fruity notes right through to the back of your throat.

NOSE:

Big and full to start off with‚ quickly becoming light with a hint of a spicy fruit

TASTE:

Floats across your tongue to the back of your throat where it rests as a slight sherry sweetness.

FINISH:

A lingering‚ smooth sweetness that flourishes into your cheeks.

What I say:

Dram #2 during the #BushmillsWhiskey Tweet tasting hosted by Steve @TheWhiskyWire

Colour:

Light golden amber (8/20), medium-sized droplets with substantial legs

Nose:

Oooh nice, furniture polish and beeswax, honey, floral, icing sugar then fruit cake

Taste:

Honey, toffee, red fruits, raisins, rum & raisin fudge anyone? cinnamon spice, tannins – yum

Finish:

Medium-long, rum and raisin, tannic dried fruits

Overall:

This delicious blend from Bushmills is redolent with dried fruits and sherry oak character, for me a definite improvement on the Original Bushmills blend. Not too sweet, this also has a slightly savoury backing to the palate making it very moreish.